A/N: Don't forget to comment, review, collect and send me those beautiful powerstones for motivation so I never drop the book đ
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Denji, having seen Shanks through his Observation Haki, spoke quietly without even turning his head.
"Bellé-mer⊠there might be trouble incoming."
Bellé-mer looked at him sharply.
"Is it pirates?"
"I don't know," Denji answered, eyes fixed on the distant presence. "But it's just two people."
Bellé-mer clicked her tongue.
"I got it."
Moments later, Shanks and Benn Beckman landed on the island. Benn shivered immediately, rubbing his arms.
"This place is really cold, you know," he muttered.
Shanks laughed lightly.
"Then I'm sure of it. The warrior we're looking for definitely resides here."
Benn only smiled at that.
The two pirates walked across the icy terrain until two figures came into view. A boy and a girl who looked around their age. The boy, Denji, sat casually while fishing, mid-length blonde hair blowing in the cold wind, his well-defined abs completely exposed as if the freezing weather meant nothing to him. A flintlock pistol rested lazily on his lap. Both Shanks and Benn instinctively shivered at the sight.
Beside him stood Bellé-mer, pink-haired and visibly irritated.
Bellé-mer, seeing the Shanks and Benn Beckman stepped forward first.
"Who are you two, and what's your business in our village?" she demanded, impatience dripping from every word.
Shanks smiled warmly at her tone.
"Hello. My name is Shanks, and this is my friend Benn Beckman. We are pirates."
Denji immediately stood up, dropping his fishing rod. In one smooth motion he grabbed the pistol, extended his arm over Bellé-mer shoulder and aimed straight at Shanks.
"Pirates are not welcome here." Denji said calmly.
Shanks raised his hands calmly. Benn, however, drew his own long pistol and pointed it toward Denji.
The air froze into an infamous standoff.
Shanks spoke softly.
"Benn, put the pistol down."
"No," Benn replied flatly. "That's too dangerous, he might shoot."
"Don't worry," Shanks reassured him. "It's a small village. I'm sure they've had their fair share of pirate problems. It's only fair for them to be suspicious."
Shanks then turned back to Denji and explained.
"We might be pirates, yes⊠but we are not bad believe me. And we're not looking to worry anyone." A polite smile rested on his face.
Of course, Denji knew Shanks wasn't inherently bad. In the One Piece story, Shanks was more of a grey area. Good to some, dangerous to others. A perfect depiction of the balance of the world. Denji was certain Shanks wouldn't just randomly decide to go cause trouble in some random village in the North Blue.
But this wasn't an anime. He was here, in real life. Personalities might change. Histories might shift. Outlooks might be different.
Yet looking at Shanks now, Denji felt reassured. Maybe he'd been worried for nothing.
Benn Beckman, seeing Shanks' earnest expression, lowered his pistol. Denji followed suit.
Shanks let out a sigh of relief.
"Well then⊠could we trouble you with something?"
Denji narrowed his eyes.
"What?"
"We're looking for someone," Shanks said. "Someone who might reside in this village."
"Oh?" Denji replied. "Who might that be?"
Shanks answered plainly.
"He goes by the nickname 'Conqueror of the North Blue.' Norwell D. Denji."
BellĂ©-mer's eyes widened, and she was about to blurt out, Huh?! What do low-life pirates like you want with Denjiâ
but Denji clamped a hand over her mouth before she could even start.
He looked straight at Shanks and said
"A Denji doesn't exist on this island."
Benn narrowed his eyes.
"Come on, man. Don't play stupid."
"Benn," Shanks reprimanded, voice firm. "Don't be rude."
He turned back to Denji.
"Are you sure?"
"Affirmative." Denji confirmed
Shanks nodded slowly.
"I see."
Denji had no idea why Shanks was looking for him, but whatever the reason was⊠he wanted no part in it.
Shanks nodded politely.
"Well then. Thank you for the trouble."
Denji released his hand from Bellé-mer's mouth. She gasped and immediately shot him an angry glare.
Denji responded calmly to Shanks.
"It was no trouble at all, really."
Shanks smiled.
"If it's not too much trouble, could we maybe enter the village? We'll just find a quiet place to rest for the night and won't cause trouble."
"What! No, you better leave nowâ" BellĂ©-mer began, but Denji cut her off.
"It's not a problem at all. Just go in and look for an Uncle Tommy. He's the only innkeeper in town."
Bellé-mer spun toward him.
"Denji, why are you letting them in?"
"Bellé-mer, they literally said they are not bad people," Denji replied.
Shanks chuckled.
"She really hates pirates, doesn't she?"
Denji shrugged.
"Well, she's about to enter the Marines this year."
Benn let out a small laugh.
"Well, her behavior makes sense then."
"Indeed," Shanks agreed. "Becoming a Marine is a very good accomplishment. I'm sure you'll do very well."
Bellé-mer puffed her chest out proudly.
"Well, it's only natural. I am the strongest woman on the island, and only Denji-kun is stronger than me."
Compliments had always been the fastest way onto Bellé-mer's good side, and she was thriving in it.
"Is that so?" Shanks said, and both he and Benn turned their eyes toward Denji with a knowing smile.
Internally, Denji screamed.
Bellé-mer, you idiot. I literally just said a Denji doesn't exist on this island, and you go and say there's a Denji stronger than you. And between me and you its obvious who's stronger. How do you just snitch on me like that?
Bellé-mer realized her mistake instantly. She clapped both hands over her mouth and looked back at Denji with a sorry expression.
Denji only sighed.
"Well then, Bellé-mer-san, Denji-kun," Shanks said, deliberately sarcastic. "We will be going in first."
"Enjoy your stay," Denji replied.
"We sure will," Shanks said, and he and Benn walked into the village.
Once they were out of sight, Bellé-mer finally whispered, "Sorry, Denji-kun⊠I slipped up."
Denji sighed again. and said
"Don't worry about it." And he continued fishing.
Bellé-mer frowned.
"Now those pirates know who you are. What do you think they want with you?"
"I don't know," Denji said. "But I'm sure I'll find out soon enough."
"They're so young," Bellé-mer muttered. "It must be a new pirate crew or something."
Realization hit Denji instantly.
Shanks set sail with his own pirate crew two years after the beginning of the Great Pirate Era⊠which was this year. During those two years in between, Shanks spent his time training. That was when he first clashed with Mihawk and that was also when he got his infamous scar from Blackbeard.
Denji thought about how strong Shanks must be even now. Shanks had learned Divine Departure when he was just a kid, a technique combining Conqueror's and Armament Haki. And now he was seventeen.
Would it really be far-fetched to think he already possessed advanced forms of Haki?
That monster of talent.
I wonder what level my own Conqueror's Haki will reach, Denji thought.
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